Immunological studies and in vitro schistosomicide action of new imidazolidine derivatives

Neves JKAL (1), Sarinho S (1), de Melo CML (2), Pereira VRA (2), de Lima MCA (1), Pitta IR (1), Albuquerque MCPA (3, 4), Galdino SL (1)

(1) Laboratory for Drug Design and Synthesis, Department of Antibiotics, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil; (2) Department of Immunology, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil; (3) Immunopathology Laboratory Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil; (4) Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.

Abstract: Schistosomiasis is a major public health problem with 207 million people infected and more than 779 million at risk. The drug of choice for treating schistosomiasis is praziquantel (PZQ); however, it is inefficient against immature forms of schistosomes. The aim of this study was to test new imidazolidine derivatives LPSF/PT09 and LPSF/PT10 against adult Schistosoma mansoni worms. IC50, cytotoxicity, immune response and cell viability assays were also available for these imidazolidines. Different concentrations of imidazolidine, from 32 to 320 μM, promoted motor abnormalities in breeding and unpaired worms, and death in 24 hours at higher concentrations. Although LPSF/PT09 and LPSF/PT10 did not affect IFN-γ and IL-10 production, they induced nitric oxide production and showed a similar behavior to praziquantel on cell death test. Thus, these new imidazolidine derivatives should undergo further study to develop schistosomiasis drugs.

Key words: Schistosoma mansoni , in vitro, imidazolidines.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are grateful to the Federal Foundation for Brazilian Research and Development (FINEP), the Coordination Executive for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), and The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for their financial support.

COPYRIGHT

© CEVAP 2011

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: November 25, 2010.

Accepted: April 19, 2011.

Abstract published online: April 26, 2011.

Full paper published online: August 31, 2011.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

There are no conflicts of interest.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

The Federal Foundation for Brazilian Research and Development (FINEP), The Coordination Executive for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), and The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) for provided financial grants.

ETHICS COMMITTEE APPROVAL

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation, Federal University of Pernambuco (process n. 007639/2007-12), in accordance with law 9.605, article 32, decree 3179, art 17.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

JULIANA KELLE DE ANDRADE LEMOINE NEVES, Departamento de Antibióticos, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, UFPE, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Recife, PE, 50670-901, Brazil. Tel: +55 81 2126 8347. Fax: +55 81 2126 8346.  Email: lemoineju@gmail.com.